Removable expeller for collapsible tubes



y 1951 J. BENDICK Q 2,554,975

REMOVABLE EXPELLER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Feb. 12, 1947 r r f f 15.1 INVEN'TOR JA CK BE N DICK ATTO RNEY Patented May 29, 1951 jack Bendick, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Application February 12, 1947, Serial No. 727,993

This invention relates to an article to facilitate in expelling the contents of a collapsible tube]:

Collapsible tubes are the most popular typeQgi-f container used for such products as toothpastes,

shaving creamsgface creams andinnumerable miscellaneous products of paste or liquid form and have several advantages as a container. One of these advantages is that the contents can be dispensed in small quantities directly to the article or surface to which the contents are to be applied, eliminating the necessity of using the fingers or a separate applicator as generally is the case when the contents are in a jar or other type of container. There are several disadvantages howeverz Unless care is taken in squeezing out the contents of the tube, unsightly corrugated deformations entrap portions of the contents, causing waste, and frequently, because of these corrugations the tube develops fractures permitting the contents to work through to the surface" resulting in wastage and also making the tube rather messy for subsequent use. I

Various suggestions have been made for removing the contents of collapsible tubes butthey have not achieved much success as they have been generally cumbersome and are generally? attached to a wall or other fixed surfacefand are not convenient to use. Some are simpler in design but must be applied before the tube is sealed at the bottom end and are only adaptable to be sold on the tube. This type is discarded with the tube. f

The object of this invention is to provide an expeller for collapsible tubes which can be easily applied to a tube after it has been filled and sealed, and when the contents have been expelled, removed to be used again on another full tube.

Another object is to provide an expeller for collapsible tubes, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and has no moving parts.

A third object of the invention is to provide an expeller for collapsible tubes which flattens the tube as it is progressively moved upwardly from the bottom end to the top, thus eliminating the unsightly corrugations and deformations which are generally the result when no expeller is used.

A fourth object of this invention is to provide an expeller for collapsible tubes which expels the contents thoroughly thus eliminating waste.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide an expeller for collapsible tubes which does not require the use of both hands when expelling the 1 Claim; (01. 222-95) contents, but be expelled by applying pressure to the tubezajust above the expeller, as in ordinary practice, with the fingers of one hand,

while the otherhand is left free. After this had been done several times the expeller is moved up the tube by holding the bottom end between the fingers ofsoiie hand while the expeller is slid up with thesfingers of the other hand, forcing all the contents ahead of the expeller for easy ejection. l'llhis method has the advantage in that holding the tube in the hand and trying to move the expeller up the tube with the fingers of the same hail in expelling the contents, is not an easy matter; This is particularly difiicult where the; contents are of rather stiff consistency.

the packaging of the tube if the user desires to keep the collapsible tube in the original package or container. I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the expeller applied toacollapsible tube. Figure 2 shows the metal blank from which the expeller is formed.

Figure 3 shows the metal blank after initial forming but before it is folded inwardly upon itself to form the expeller illustrated in the subsequent figures.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of expeller at the open end.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of expeller at closed end.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of fastening member.

Figure 7 is a top elevational view of expeller with fastening member on.

Figure 8 is a top elevational view of expeller broken on the line 8-8, Figure '7, showing open end with fastening member removed.

Figure 9 is method of manufacture of fastening member from the tubular piece having a slot of suitable width.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line l0lll of Figure 7.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the specification and drawings.

The numeral It indicates a collapsible tube slotted clip 16 over the wings l4, I5.

As shown in Figure 4 andfiexpeller sides H- converge inwardly and near the bottom edge thereof, diverge outwardly to form a pair of parallel lips l2 with a narrow slotl3'fo'rr'ned between the lips 2. The particular shape add rigidity to the sides H which is necessary to prevent the contents of the tube from by-pass'ing the lips to the collapsed prtion of the tube when pre'ssureis applied. Each end of the blank shown in Figure 2 is formed with diverging wings l4, l5 respectively, which are fastened together by means of a'slotted clip l6. These diverging wings permit easier application of the expeller to the tube and prevent the slotted clip from being pulled sidewaysoff the expeller, which will be in a direction: at right angles to the normal method of applying the slotted clip to the body of the expeller or in removing it. Near the base of the wing 14 is formed a stud I1 stamped out of the material and which fits into an indentation l8 formed in the base of the wing l5'.-.::..-The indentation l8 does not protrude to the =opposite side of the wing but is made in the metal itself and does not interfere with slippingthe The blank is also shaped so that when it is folded inwardly upon itselfthe ends I9; will have the top edge flared outwardly as indicated at 2|, 22 to prevent the expeller from cutting into thetube as it is moved upwards. The ends I9,- 20' are also inclined inwardly as illustrated which prevents the-expeller from slipping down when pressure is applied to the tube in expelling I 20 need not be as wide since the slight springing tension of the lips l2 permit them to give sufliciently to provide a proper pressure on the tube to force all contents before the expeller.

The slotted clip I6 is tubular in construction with a, slot 23 just wide enough to slip over the two thicknesses of the metal of the expeller and fits over the diverging wings l4, 15. The lower and or the slot 23 is slightly chamfered to permit easy insertion onto the expeller and the upper end is compressed or crimped to prevent the clip it from being slipped too far over the wings l4,;l5. I In manufacturing the clip I6, a tubular member 24 with a slot of suitable width is cut into proper lengths as shown in Figure 9 with a suitable instrument which will cut one end without deforming or compressing the walls of the tubular nieri-ib'r and will apply a compressing action to the other end during the cutting operation to narrow the slot.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A: removable and reusable expeller for acollapsib'le' tube comprising a member having side and end walls, said side walls being arcuately curved to conform to the curvature Of the outside surface of the tube and terminating at their lower edge in a pair of lips forming a longitudinal slot therebet'ween, the end walls being arcuate'ly curved to conform to the shape of the sides of the tube, one of said end walls being divided vertically tarorm a pair of free ends, a laterally projecting portion on each free end, each of said projectin portions having a groove on its outer surface, and a U-shaped member adapted to slide at a right angle over said laterally projecting portions in said grooves :andsecure them together. v

JACK BENDICK.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS 

